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Thursday, 27 April 2017

Painting these models was more time consuming than I had expected. Highlighting many flat surfaces using red color was a lot of work.
I started with a basecoat of dark red airbrushed from the bottom and followed it with brighter shade applied from the top. After that I darkened all the recesses and proceeded with highlighting the armor plates. I did it using watered down Flat Red from Vallejo Model Color - a really nice, solid color. When it comes to highlighting red, it's easy to go wrong by adding different color to the mix and make it too pinkish with white or too dark with brown or black. This time I decided to mix some GW Bloodletter Glaze mixed with Flat Red for a brighter shade. It worked pretty well as it solidified the color and made it brighter, while keeping the mix properly thinned down for some brushwork.

I decided to use blue for extra element of contrast on their cores and Guardian's blade. Together with some gold TMM and bright bases (described in detail in a review here) it created the atmosphere I was looking for in these models.
I wanted to avoid using the artwork for inspiration as I was put off by the rough metallic appearance of the constructs. Using red was a no-brainer as this color is immediately associated with the Guild. I also added some chipping effects.
Hoffman, two Wardens and Watchers are next in line and I will start working on them next week, so expect an update soon.

"Warbreaker" is another standalone novel written by Sanderson. The main story features two sisters, one of whom is sent to a hostile nation to be married to its leader, the god king. Ignoring old traditions, a younger sister is sent to fulfill this role, and soon the older one follows her secretly, intending to free her. As always, magic plays a significant part in Sanderson's story. This time is revolves around the use of colors and bringing inanimate objects to life.

The plot itself isn't complicated, but the author manages to present the political and religious systems in a very interesting way. I particularly liked the way he explored the way people rely on symbols and their representations, taking many aspects of their lives for granted without ever questioning them. The image of an almost omniscient god, who is in fact helpless and bound by the will of his worshipers, sends a strong message.

Just like all other novels by this author I've read, the final twist caught me by surprise. I found the ending satisfying, despite some features of Sanderson's style that I don't really care for (such as frequent use of modern, colloquial, and too informal speech in some of the dialogues).

Tuesday, 25 April 2017

Most people probably associate Customeeple with excellent gaming terrain and tokens. The company has also started producing base inserts for Malifaux. I got a chance to review a set of Malifaux Hoffman lab base tops and I was really impressed with the quality of this product.

The inserts are very thin and the details are laser-engraved. They fit perfectly onto bases (I tested all available versions, 30, 40, and 50mm). They are made from hard density, 32 mm cardboard so they don't increase the height and weight of the base. Some of them require assembly as the cogwheels are glued in layers, but the amount of work needed is minimal. You just need to remove them from the form and attach to the base. I used super glue to make sure they hold well.Wkładki są bardzo cienkie i mają detale zrobione laserowo. Idealnie pasują do podstawek (testowałem wszystkie dostępne wersje, 30, 40 i 50mm). Są wykonane ze 32 mm wzmocnionego kartonu, a więc po przyklejeniu nie będą zwiększały wysokości ani wagi podstawki. Niektóre z nich wymagają trochę pracy - koła zębate są przyklejane warstwami, ale nie ma przy tym zbyt dużo roboty. Wystarczy tylko usnąć je z wypraski i dokleić podstawek. Używałem do tego super glue, żeby mieć pewność że będą się dobrze trzymać.

I started painting them with a black basecoat and followed that with applying basic highlights with an airbrush. After that I used some watered down shades of very light brown for highlights and also added a few glazes. I finished off with painting several brighter thin lines along the planks to make sure they didn't look flat. The metal elements were painted using true metallic metal techniques with some Nihilakh Oxide applied around the cogs for weathering effects.

I really like these base inserts. The material is thin but has a solid feel to it. The way they fit onto the base makes it look as if they were designed to be one whole piece with it. The level of detail is excellent too. There are also different types of inserts available from Customeeple, which look very interesting too. There are different themes (wasteland, circus, Guild office, street, sanatorium) and some really great tops to be used with models like the Coryphee or Arachnids that make it possible to use these models in different versions.Bardzo podobają mi się te wkładki. Materiał jest cieniutki ale są też solidnie wykonane. To jak dobrze pasują do podstawek sprawia wrażenie, że zostały razem z nimi zaprojektowane jako całość. Poiom wykonania detali jest też świetny. Customeeple ma w ofercie więcej wkładek, które też wyglądają bardzo ciekawie. Są zróżnicowane tematycznie (pustkowie, cyrk, biuro Gildii, szpital) i jest tam kilka naprawdę świetnych rozwiązań do wykorzystania przy takich modelach jak Corypher czy Arachnidy, które umożliwiają korzystanie z modeli w różnych wersjach.

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

Scheme markers and other tokens that help keep track of various conditions and effects are a must in a game of Malifaux. Being able to easily notice them is often crucial. Also, if you want to take part in a tournament, GG2017 rules state that you must own them. There are several companies that have been producing tokens for Malifaux for a while but Widget Wizards have managed to introduce new, interesting ideas that make using tokens even more convenient.

There are some really clever solutions here. First of all, the markers used for tracking conditions are designed to fit around the bases of models. It's a simple but brilliant idea as it makes it possible to clearly represent various in-game effects. The symbols on them are easy to recognize (for example shield for defensive stance, eye for focused, etc.). I particularly like the "activated" markers as they really speed things up by clearly showing which models have already been used.

I also really like the way Ilussionary Forest marker is designed. These two 50mm markers are connected, which makes it impossible to place them incorrectly (the same goes for Sonnia's Flame Wall or Raspy's Ice Pillars).

As far as quality goes, the tokens look really good. They only need some cleaning up from paper after unboxing. I also recommend using some white paint to make them even better. It's a simple process. You just need to apply white paint generously over the details and once it's dried, remove the sticker. It's not necessary as the tokens already look very nice without extra paint, but as you can see in the pictures, this will make the details pop nicely.

The markers are laser cut and engraved from 1/8 inch acrylic. There are different colors available, all correspond to factions from Malifaux. The engravings are intricate and are deep enough to make sure they won't rub off. I was pleasantly surprised by attention to small details, such as a small tear on the Neverborn mask symbol or highly detailed engravings on Scheme Markers. I've used different versions before but these are definitely the best I've seen so far.

If I were to point one marker that is absolutely indispensable I'd choose the Measurement Tool without any hesitation. It's used to measure walk and melee range as well as some other effects in game. The tool combines elegant design with high functionality and I usually use it several times every turn.

There are also markers engraved and cut from 1/8 inch Western Alder wood. Here the details look great too. Big contrast between them and the darker part makes it easy to immediately realize what kind of effect or marker is represented. Also, the symbols are nicely shaded, which makes them look more three-dimensional.

Overall, I can highly recommend markers and tokens from Widget Wizards. In the basic set you get more than you will ever need for all the common conditions and effects. The Measuring tool is excellent and will improve your gaming experience and other tokens important for your crew or faction can be bought separately. And one more thing - there are four "special" 30 mm markers, on which you can simply write the name of the effect you need, which will save you time and money.

David Gemmell used to be my favorite writer and several years ago I spent many hours reading his novels. In fact I have all of them until today. Sadly, he passed away while writing the last book of Troy trilogy. His wife stepped up and completed the story using his notes. It worked really well and Troy: Fall of Kings was well received.

"The City" is her first independently written book, and it has received mixed reviews. I found it disappointing.

Using the city itself as the main protagonist is an interesting solution. After years of wars and conflicts, it has expanded way beyond its borders. Now it's so huge that its inhabitants sometimes don't even know what life beyond it looks like. The city is ruled by the emperor, an ancient god-like character who is rarely seen by other people.

The story begins in the sewers below the city, where some of the protagonists are presented. As the narrative progresses, other characters are introduced and gradually higher layers of society are presented. I felt that each time a character was introduced and I started identifying with them, the action suddenly switched to another one. I didn't like this solution as I never felt that the potential of protagonists was fully explored. Also, their behavior was not only surprising but at times even erratic. I finished the novel mainly out of respect for David Gemmell but found it disappointing on many levels and probably won't even read the continuation.

Thursday, 6 April 2017

I've read many positive comments about this product before and now I can finally start using it. Taking good care of your brushes (especially if you use brushes with natural hair) is essential if you plan to have them for a longer period of time.

I've already tried this cleaner and I'm very impressed with the effects. I can highly recommend it. If you want to see how it's supposed to be used, check out tutorials on youtube, such as the one below.